Before Dinner Extras
Keeping A Hungry Crowd Happy
By Brenda Hyde
http://www.seedofknowledge.com

Some great appetizers to keep your dinner guests happy while you finish preparing the main meal.

 Each time I have had a crowd of people over for the holidays they walk
in starving. It doesn't matter what time they arrive or how close dinner
is. I have found that giving them special extras to munch on really
helps to give me some time in the kitchen without people asking where
the meal is every five minutes. Somehow, they end up eating just as much at dinner despite snacking! Here are some recipes that you can serve before your holiday meal.

Spicy Shrimp Spread
Ingredients:
1/2 pound frozen salad shrimp
1 fresh jalapeno, halved and seeded
1 medium clove garlic, peeled
8 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/8 tsp. salt
pinch of sugar

Put jalapeno and garlic in food processor, blender or mince very very
fine. Add remaining ingredients except shrimp. Process until smooth. Add
shrimp and just process until coarsely chopped. Can be refrigerated up
to 2 days. I would serve this with thin crackers, bagel chips or pita
crisps.

Poppy Seed Bread
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat 350 degree oven. Combine sugar, butter, eggs, and extracts. Mix
on medium speed, scrape bowl often until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients. Beat 1-2 minutes more until mixed. Pour into
bundt or tube pan. Bake 50-65 minutes until done. Cool 10 minutes.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Slice into medium thin pieces and place on
serving plate for guests.

Cheese Dip
I got this recipe from my Mother-in-Law years ago. It started out as a
cheese ball and along the way became a dip for everything! You can serve
with pretzels, crackers, bagel or pita chips. It tastes good with
everything!
Ingredients:
8 ounces cream cheese
1 jar Roca cheese spread from Kraft
1 jar Old English spread from Kraft
Dash garlic powder

Mix it all together; the cheese should be soft to do this. Be sure to
take out of the refrigerator so it can be room temperature to serve.

Pistachio Bread
This is another family recipe. A holiday doesn't go by that one of us
doesn't make this!
Ingredients:
1 yellow cake mix
1 box instant pistachio pudding
1/4 cup oil
1/2 pint sour cream
4 eggs
1/4 cup water

Mix all ingredients with a mixer until blended. In another bowl mix
these ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup crushed walnuts or pecans
1 tsp. cinnamon

This makes two loaves. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter pans. Start
with a layer of the bread mixture, then sprinkle on the nut mixture,
another layer of bread mixture, and at the end sprinkle the top with the
nut mixture and marble it all with a knife through the batter. This does
not have to be exact as far as the layers as long as you distribute it
in both loaves and then marble. Bake for one hour; or when toothpick
comes clean.

For more holiday recipes, crafts and tips visit Seeds of Knowledge at
http://www.seedsofknowledge.com where we help families create and
share memories and traditions.

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